GenRx Paroxetine

GENRX PAROXETINE TABLETS

Contains the active ingredient, paroxetine hydrochloride

Consumer Medicine Information

NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons
living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common
questions about GenRx Paroxetine. It does
not contain all the information that is known about
GenRx Paroxetine. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks
and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine
against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have
any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.

What this medicine is used for

The name of your medicine is GenRx Paroxetine. It contains the active ingredient, paroxetine (as paroxetine hydrochloride).

It is used to treat:

depression

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

panic disorder

social anxiety disorder or social phobia

generalised anxiety disorder

post-traumatic stress disorder.

It is also used to prevent the symptoms of depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and panic disorder from coming back.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed
this medicine for another reason.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

How it works

Paroxetine belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They are thought to work
by their action on brain chemicals called amines which are involved in controlling mood.

Depression is longer lasting and/or more severe than the "low moods" everyone has from time to time due to the stress of everyday
life. It is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in parts of the brain. This imbalance affects your whole body and
can cause emotional and physical symptoms such as feeling low in spirit, not interested in usual activities, being unable
to enjoy life, poor appetite or overeating, disturbed sleep, often waking up early, loss of sex drive, lack of energy and
feeling guilty over nothing. Paroxetine corrects the chemical imbalance and so helps to relieve the symptoms of depression,
and stops them coming back.

Paroxetine is thought to have a similar action when it used to treat or prevent irrational fears or obsessional behaviour
or panic attacks, and when it is used to treat patients who may avoid and/or are fearful of social situations, have excessive
anxiety and worry, who feel irritable, restless and/or tense in the muscles, or who experience repeated and distressing recollections
of a past traumatic event.

There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive

Clinical experience has shown that paroxetine should not affect the ability to drive or operate machinery. However, make sure
you know how paroxetine affects you before driving or operating machinery, as it can make some people drowsy or dizzy or affect
their concentration.

Use in children

Paroxetine is not recommended for use in anyone under 18 years of age. It has been shown that the risk of serious side effects
such as suicidal thoughts and actions is higher in people under 18.

Before you take this medicine

When you must not take it

Do not take this medicine if:

You are taking other medicines called Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs may be used for the treatment of depression
(phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide), Parkinson's disease (selegiline) infections (linezolid), or diagnosis of certain
conditions / treatment of certain blood disorders (methylene blue).

There may be others MAOIs also so check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take paroxetine until 14 days after stopping any MAOI, and do not take MAOIs until 14 days after stopping paroxetine.

Taking paroxetine with or within 14 days of taking MAOIs may cause a serious reaction with a sudden increase in body temperature,
very high blood pressure and convulsions. Your doctor will know when it is safe to start paroxetine after the MAOI has been
stopped.

You are taking thioridazine or pimozide for the treatment of schizophrenia or other psychoses (disturbances in thinking, feelings
and behaviours).

You have had an allergic reaction to paroxetine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the
face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body, rash itching or hives on the skin, fainting or hayfever-like symptoms.

If you think you are having an allergic reaction, contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department
at the nearest hospital.

The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.

The packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering or it does not look quite right.

Before you start to take it

Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:

1.You have allergies to:

any other medicines

any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

2.You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:

mania, hypomania or bipolar disorder

previous episodes of depression

epilepsy or convulsions, fits or seizures

heart problems

liver problems

kidney problems

narrow-angle glaucoma (raised pressure in the eye)

problems with blood clotting or abnormal bleeding

other psychiatric conditions

thoughts or actions relating to self-harm or suicide

intolerance to lactose. These tablets contain lactose.

3.You are receiving electro-convulsive therapy (ECT).

4.You should not take this medicine if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, unless your doctor thinks it is necessary,
however you must not stop taking this medicine suddenly.

Studies show that use of paroxetine in early pregnancy (first 13 weeks) may be associated with an increased risk of heart
defects in babies. If you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking this medicine, you should make an appointment
to see your doctor and have your treatment reviewed.

It is important that you do not stop taking this medicine suddenly. Paroxetine can have withdrawal side effects if stopped
suddenly.

If you are male, your chances of fathering a child may be reduced.

5.You are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.

Paroxetine passes into breast milk. It is not known if it affects babies, so discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits
of taking this medicine whilst breast-feeding.

6.You are planning to have surgery.

7.You are currently receiving or are planning to receive dental treatment.

8.You are taking or are planning to take any other medicines.

This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some combinations of medicines may increase the risk of having serious side effects. These serious side effects may be life-threatening.

aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anti-coagulants (such as warfarin), which can thin the blood

cimetidine, used to treat stomach ulcers or reflux

a class of medicines used to treat migraines called triptans, examples include sumatriptan, naratriptan and zolmitriptan

St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) or tryptophan, contained in some multivitamin and herbal preparations, which can be
bought without a prescription

tramadol, a strong pain-killer

tamoxifen, used to treat breast cancer

fosamprenavir and ritonavir, used to treat HIV infection

L-tryptophan.

If you are taking any of these you may need a different dose or you may need to take different medicines.

Other medicines not listed above may also interact with paroxetine.

How to take this medicine

Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. Their instructions may be different to
the information in this leaflet.

How much to take

Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how much of this medicine you should take. This will depend on your condition and
whether you are taking any other medicines.

Do not stop taking your medicine or change your dosage without first checking with your doctor.

The usual dose of paroxetine for depression, social anxiety disorder/social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder or post-traumatic
stress disorder is one 20 mg tablet taken once each day. If 20 mg is not working, your doctor may increase the dose slowly
by adding 10 mg at a time. The dose should not go above 50 mg per day in adults, or 40 mg per day in elderly people.

The usual dose of paroxetine for obsessions and compulsions or panic attacks is two 20 mg tablets taken once each day. Your
doctor should start you on a lower dose and increase the dose slowly by adding 10 mg at a time over several weeks. This may
require you to break the tablet in half. The dose should not go above 60 mg per day in adults, or 40 mg per day in elderly
people.

If you have kidney or liver problems then the doses may be lower.

How to take it

Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.

The tablets should not be chewed.

When to take it

Take your medicine in the morning, preferably with food.

Take this medicine at the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect and will also
help you remember when to take it.

How long to take it for

Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.

Make sure you have enough to last over weekends and holidays.

Like other drugs of this type, this medicine will not relieve your symptoms straight away. People generally start feeling
better in a few weeks or so. Occasionally the symptoms of depression or other psychiatric conditions may include thoughts
of harming yourself or committing suicide. It is possible that these symptoms may continue or increase until your medicine
starts to work.

Make sure that you or anyone close to you or caring for you watch for these symptoms in the first few months or treatment
or when changing the dose, and that you or your carer tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital if you have
any distressing thoughts or experiences during this initial period or at any other time.

Also contact your doctor if you experience any worsening of your depression/other symptoms at any time during your treatment.

Stopping Treatment

Do not stop taking this medicine even if you begin to feel better.

Your doctor may decide that you should continue to take it for some time, even when you have overcome your problem. For best
effect, this medicine must be taken regularly.

Your doctor will tell you when and how this medicine should be discontinued. Your doctor will usually recommend that you
stop treatment by slowly reducing the dosage over a period of several weeks. When you stop treatment with this medicine especially
if this is done suddenly, you may experience unwanted side effects such as feeling dizzy, sick or anxious; sweating; pins
and needles or electric shock feelings, or disturbed sleep.

If you forget to take it

Do not take an extra dose. Wait until the next day and take your dose then.

Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.

This may increase the chance of unwanted side effects.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons
Information Centre (Tel: 13 11 26 in Australia) for advice. Alternatively go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital.

Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

While you are taking this medicine

Things you must do

People taking paroxetine may be more likely to think about killing themselves or actually try to do so, especially when paroxetine
is first started or the dose is changed. Tell your doctor immediately if you have thoughts about killing yourself or if you
are close to or care for someone using paroxetine who talks about or shows signs of killing him or herself.

All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.

Occasionally, the symptoms of depression may include thoughts of suicide or self-harm. It is possible that these symptoms
continue or get worse until the full antidepressant effect of the medicine becomes apparent. This is more likely to occur
if you are a young adult, i.e. 18 to 24 years of age, and you have not used antidepressant medicines before.

If you or someone you know or care for demonstrates any of the following warning signs of suicide-related behaviour while
taking paroxetine, contact a doctor immediately, or even to go to the nearest hospital for treatment:

thoughts or talk of death or suicide

thoughts of talk of self-harm or harm to others

any recent attempts of self-harm

increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or agitation.

Tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine if:

you are about to be started on any new medicine

you plan to have any vaccinations or immunisations

you become pregnant or plan to breastfeed

you are about to have any blood tests

you are going to have surgery.

Your doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects. Go to your doctor
regularly for a check-up.

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you take this medicine.

If you are a male and you and your partner have been unsuccessful whilst trying for a baby, tell your doctor.

Some studies have shown that medicines such as paroxetine may affect sperm quality. However the effect goes away if the medicine
is stopped.

If you have an accident, and/or break a bone, tell your doctor that you are taking paroxetine,

Some antidepressant medicines have been associated with an increased risk of bone fracture.

Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed.

Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.

Tell your doctor if you feel the tablets are not helping your condition.

If you are being treated for depression, be sure to discuss with your doctor any problems you may have and how you feel, especially
any feelings of severe sadness, thoughts of suicide, bursts of unusual energy, anger or aggression, or if you become particularly
agitated or restless.

This will help your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.

Things you must not do

Do not:

give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours

take your medicine to treat any other condition unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to

stop taking your medicine suddenly, or change the dosage, without first checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, light-headedness or problems concentrating in some people. If you have any
of these symptoms, do not drive a car; operate machinery, or anything else that could be dangerous.

Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking paroxetine.

If you drink alcohol, dizziness, drowsiness or impaired concentration may be worse, or your symptoms of depression or anxiety
may become worse. Your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol while you are being treated with this medicine.

You should wait at least 14 days after stopping paroxetine before starting any medicines known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOIs), such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine and moclobemide.

When your doctor decides that you should stop taking this medicine, the dose may be reduced slowly or the time between the
doses increased over 1 to 2 weeks.

Some people may have symptoms such as such as feeling dizzy, sick or anxious; sweating; pins and needles or electric shock
feelings, or disturbed sleep if paroxetine is stopped, particularly if stopped suddenly.

Possible side effects

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking paroxetine or if you have any questions
or concerns.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. All medicines can have side
effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not.

If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you.

feeling out of sorts, with fever, headache and cough, then suddenly getting spots or blisters which quickly develop into large
amounts of blistering or peeling skin

kidney stones and/or kidney pain, blood in the urine.

Allergic reactions

If you think you are having an allergic reaction to paroxetine, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately
or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:

cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing

swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body

rash, itching or hives on the skin

fainting

hayfever-like symptoms

Withdrawal Symptoms

Unwanted effects that may occur after paroxetine has been stopped suddenly:

feeling dizzy

feeling sick

feeling agitated, anxious or confused

sweating, shaking or tremors

pins and needles, burning feeling or electric shock feelings

disturbed sleep( including nightmares)

tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears)

headache

diarrhoea.

These are likely to occur within the first few days of stopping treatment or (very rarely) if you miss a dose. However, they
are more likely to occur if you stop taking paroxetine too quickly. Therefore always consult your doctor before stopping
your medicine.

For most people the above side effects will disappear within a few weeks. However, if you feel that these effects are too
severe, see your doctor who can look at phasing out your medicine more gradually.

Although paroxetine is not recommended for children under 18 years of age, the most common unwanted effects in this age group
are as follows:

decreased appetite

uncontrollable trembling or shaking

sweating

hyperactivity

abdominal (e.g. stomach) pain

hostile or unfriendly behaviour

trying to harm themselves

thinking about or trying to commit suicide

changing emotions or moods e.g. feeling tearful

feeling nervous or agitated.

The list above does not include every side effect seen with paroxetine.

Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.

Storage and Disposal

Storage

Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.

If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.

Keep your medicine in a cool, dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C. Protect from moisture.

Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink.

Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine, or it has passed its expiry date, your pharmacist can dispose of the
remaining medicine safely.

Product description

What GenRx Paroxetine looks like

20 mg tablets:

White, oval, biconvex and film-coated. The tablets are partially scored and engraved "20" on one side. The other side is
plain.

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